RSS Feed 10 Freshwater shrimp species | Aquarium shrimp types & info

With the shrimp hobby exploding in the past few years, the number of selectively bred (dwarf) shrimp species has shot up. New varieties are always appearing and our knowledge on keeping and breeding these inverts is ever-growing.

In need of shrimpspiration? Mason from Build Your Aquarium discusses ten aquarium shrimp types. From extremely popular to quite uncommon and from beginner-proof to a little more challenging: there’s a shrimp for every aquarist.


This article is a guest post by Mason from Buildyouraquarium.com!

Note: If you want to know more about general dwarf shrimp care, have a look at the article on keeping dwarf shrimp!

Red Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)


Scientific Name: Neocaridina davidi var. red

Care Level: Easy

Temperature Range: 65-85 °F/18-29.5 °C

Suggested pH: 6.3-8.0

Red Cherry Shrimp are one of the most popular species of freshwater aquarium shrimp, characterized by their bright colors and hardy nature. Compared to other shrimp species, Red Cherries are considered easy to care for and can thrive in peaceful community tanks (as long as no aggressive tank mates are present!)

Red Cherry Shrimp do best when kept in a tank environment with temperatures between 77-81 °F/18-29.5 °C. Higher temperatures encourage faster breeding and growth, but can be troublesome due to lower dissolved oxygen concentrations. Lower temperatures discourage Red Cherry Shrimp from breeding and can be used to slow down the growth of large colonies.

Feeding Red Cherry Shrimp is usually quite easy; in fact, a large colony can actually make for a great clean-up crew. As an omnivorous species, Red Cherry Shrimp will feed on both algae and uneaten/leftover fish food. If you plan to keep a shrimp-only tank, supplemental feeding is always a good idea. GlasGarten Shrimp Dinner is a pelleted shrimp food that should be appreciated by your Red Cherries.

Want to know more? You can find a full Red Cherry Shrimp caresheet here.


_DSF8449hxxh by Peder Lundgren

Blue tiger shrimp (Caridina cf. cantonensis ‘Blue Tiger’)


Scientific Name: Caridina cf. cantonensis ‘Blue Tiger’

Care Level: Moderate

Temperature Range: 65-75 °F/18-24 °C

Suggested pH: 6.0-7.5

Blue Tigers are a striking species of freshwater aquarium shrimp made famous for their stunning, deep blue bodies and bright orange eyes. Blue Tiger Shrimp are a species of Caridina cf. cantonensis, so their care requirements are very similar to many others on our list.

Blue Tiger Shrimp aren’t necessarily the easiest species to keep (that distinction goes to Cherry Shrimp), but they aren’t overly difficult. As with any fish or invertebrate, a cycled tank and good water quality is extremely important. As long as you keep the water temperatures stable, pH within the acceptable range, and nitrates at a minimum, this stunning species should thrive in your aquarium. In addition, make sure to keep up with weekly/bi-weekly water changes!

As with other Cantonensis species, Blue Tiger Shrimp are omnivorous – meaning they feed on both plant based and meaty foods. Since Blue Tigers are a little more sensitive than other species of shrimp, make sure you don’t overfeed. Ammonia and nitrite spikes caused by overfeeding can be extremely dangerous to a shrimp tank.

You can buy Blue Tiger Shrimp (orange eyed) online here!


Caridina-cf-cantonensis-blue-tiger by DirkBlankenhaus

Blue bolt shrimp (Caridina cf. cantonensis)


Scientific Name: Caridina cf. cantonensis var. ‘Blue bolt’

Care Level: Moderate

Temperature Range: 65-75 °F/18-24 °C

Suggested pH: 6.0-7.5

If you’re looking for a unique and unusual variety of shrimp for your aquarium, look no further. Blue Bolts are one of the most beautiful species out there. Unsurprisingly, though, Blue Bolts are relatively rare and can be hard to find at local fish stores. If you plan to keep this species, you’re best off ordering online.

Blue Bolt Shrimp are another species of Cantonensis (aka Bee Shrimp), so their care requirements are quite similar to those of tiger shrimp. That being said, they are especially sensitive to ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, so regular water changes are a must. They also prefer slightly acidic and soft water if you’re looking to get a bit more technical.

Since Cantonensis species often interbreed, you probably shouldn’t keep Blue Bolts with the other species of shrimp on our list unless you know what you’re doing (this goes for most shrimp in general). Luckily, though, a Blue Bolt species-only tank usually doesn’t need any help in the looks department. Their unique color patterns provide enough variety, especially against the green of a planted tank.

You can buy your Blue Bolt Shrimp online here!


_DSF8210gg by Peder Lundgren

Ghost Shrimp (Palaemonetes sp.)


Scientific Name: Palaemonetes sp.

Care Level: Easy

Temperature Range: 70-80 °F/21-26.5 °C

Suggested pH: 7.0-7.8

Ghost Shrimp are, without a doubt, the easiest type of shrimp on our list to care for. They are extremely cheap/common and are generally thought of as feeders rather than pets. That being said, Ghost Shrimp (sometimes referred to as Glass shrimp) are a great species for first time shrimp owners. If you’re looking to set up a nice shrimp-only tank but have never actually kept shrimp before, pick up a few Ghosts to test out your new set up!

Ghost Shrimp are also known for being great scavengers, making them a great addition to community aquariums without aggressive fish. Those that don’t get eaten will scavenge the tank floor for uneaten food, algae, and detritus.

Breeding Ghost Shrimp is a little different than other species on our list. Unlike dwarf shrimp that hatch as miniature versions of the adults, Ghost Shrimp hatch as larvae. This means that they are much more delicate and vulnerable at birth than other species. That being said, the larvae shouldn’t have any problem surviving in a shrimp-only tank.


Click here to buy your ghost shrimp at The Shrimp Farm!

Crystal Red/Crystal Black Shrimp (Caridina cf. cantonensis)


Scientific Name: Caridina cf. cantonensis var. ‘Crystal Red’

Care Level: Moderate

Temperature Range: 65-75 °F/18-24 °C

Suggested pH: 6.0-7.5

Crystal Red Shrimp (often referred to simply as CRS) are one of the most selectively bred species in the aquarium world. Over the last few years, demand for this species has exploded and experts have bred Crystal Reds into stunning and unique patterns, many of which can fetch high prices.

The price of Crystal Red Shrimp is largely based on where they fall on the grading scale, which is as follows – SSS, SS, S+, S, A, B, C. Crystal Red Shrimp with an SSS grade are considered the most desirable and can fetch upwards of $20 each. Generally, higher grade CRS are more white and opaque in color than lower grades. You can find an example of a high grade Crystal Red Shrimp pictured at the top of this article.

For those looking to set up a shrimp-only tank (and dabble in some breeding), Crystal Red Shrimp are a great choice. CRS are a little bit harder to keep than Cherry Shrimp, but their beauty and patterns definitely make up for the small increase in difficulty. Crystal Red species-only tanks are extremely beautiful when done correctly!

You can buy Crystal Red Shrimp online here!


_DSF8983s by Peder Lundgren

Babaulti Shrimp (Caridina babaulti)


Scientific Name: Caridina cf. babaulti

Care Level: Easy

Temperature Range: 65-85 °F/18-29.5 °C

Suggested pH: 6.5-7.8

Of all the species on our list, Babaulti Shrimp are probably the most underappreciated. They come in a wide variety of colors, including red, yellow, green, and brown. In addition, striped varieties are also very common! Despite their range of colors, Babaulti are often overshadowed by more common species such as Crystal Reds or Cherry Shrimp.

Compared to a lot of other dwarf shrimp species, Babaulti are actually pretty easy to care for. The basic necessities of any aquarium (complete cycle, no ammonia/nitrites, stable temp./pH) are still required, of course, but Babaulti are much more accepting to small mistakes.

The omnivorous diet of Caridina babaulti is pretty similar to most dwarf shrimp species – a combination of planted based and meat based food is usually the best option. That being said, Babaulti have an exceptionally large appetite for decaying plant matter, making them a great choice for planted tanks. They do a very well job at getting to dead plants before decomposition occurs, helping reduce dissolved organics and toxins such as ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Indian almond leaves will be appreciated.


Caridina babaulti var. “Zebra” by Andrej Resetniak

Panda Shrimp (Caridina cantonensis var. ‘Panda’)


Scientific Name: Caridina cf. cantonensis var. “Panda”

Care Level: Semi-difficult

Temperature Range: 62-75 °F/16.5-24.5 °C

Suggested pH: 6.0-7.5

Surprise, surprise… another Caridina cantonensis variety makes the list! Panda Shrimp, also known as Black King Kong Pandas, are a striking black and white variety of Cantonensis with an extremely interesting background.

At one point, Black King Kongs were the most “hyped up” dwarf shrimp in the hobby and could fetch hundreds of dollars each. In fact, one sold for the astounding price of $830 to a collector in Japan. Since then, the craze has definitely died down. Panda Shrimp generally go for $10-$20 each in today’s market. That being said, they are still a great option for aquarists looking for something a little more exclusive than other species on our list.

Although Black Panda Shrimp are a variety of Cantonensis, they are considerably harder to keep than their Crystal Red/Black counterparts. They are especially sensitive to changes in water conditions, so it is recommended to keep this species in a larger tank to avoid any parameter swings. In addition, Pandas are slower breeders than other varieties of Cantonensis. If you’re looking to build a quick, easy colony, Pandas probably aren’t the best choice.

You can buy your Black Panda Shrimp online here!


Caridina-cf-cantonensis-Panda by Marcus Hafermann

Snowball Shrimp (Neocaridina cf zhangjiajiensis var. White)


Scientific Name: Neocaridina cf zhangjiajiensis var. White

Care Level: Easy

Temperature Range: 65-85 °F/18-29.5 °C

Suggested pH: 6.2-7.8

For beginner aquarists looking to set up their first shrimp tank (or anyone looking for an easy shrimp to care for) Snowball Shrimp definitely top the list. This variety of Neocaridina is easy to care for, striking in appearance, and doesn’t require large/elaborate setups.

Much like their Cherry Shrimp cousins, Snowballs aren’t too tough to please when it comes to water conditions, making them a great choice for beginners. They can tolerate more fluctuations than other species (although you should still try to keep your tank as stable as possible) and can thrive in a wide range of conditions. In addition to being easy to care for, Snowball Shrimp are also very easy to breed and can multiply into a large colony in no time.

Snowball Shrimp aren’t picky eaters. They survive mostly off detritus and algae. In a clean aquarium, though, the occasional supplemental feeding is necessary. As we suggested with Red Cherry Shrimp, GlasGarten Shrimp Dinner is a great choice to keep your Snowballs happy and healthy.


Neocaridina-cf-zhangjiajiensis-sp-white-pearl by DirkBlankenhaus

Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata)


Scientific Name: Caridina multidentata

Care Level: Easy

Temperature Range: 65-85 °F/18-29.5 °C

Suggested pH: 6.5-8.0

No proper shrimp list would be complete without the famous Amano Shrimp. Amanos are known for their insatiable appetite for algae. They are common among aquarists that need a little help keeping their tank clean. This shrimp is not on the list of best algae eaters for nothing!

In addition to being a great algae-eaters, Amano Shrimp are one of the easiest species on our list to care for. As long as you keep your parameters stable, these shrimp should be able to survive in a wide range of conditions. This ease-of-care, along with their relatively large size (2-3” max length), make Amanos a great choice for community aquariums (as long as no predatory fish are present).

While Amano Shrimp are a great beginner species, they definitely aren’t the best for those looking to build a large colony. Amanos are notoriously hard to breed and raise from fry, as larvae require brackish water to survive.

Want to know more? You can find a full Amano shrimp caresheet here.


_DSF4361ww by Peder Lundgren

Bumblebee Shrimp (Caridina cf. breviata)


Scientific Name: Caridina cf. breviata

Care Level: Moderate

Temperature Range: 70-80 °F/21-26.5 °C

Suggested pH: 6.0-7.2

Bumblebee Shrimp are a species of dwarf shrimp named after their striped coloration. While they’re not the hardest species to care for, Bumblebees are sensitive to ammonia and nitrites and should only be kept in pristine conditions.

Despite the confusing name, Bumblebee Shrimp are not a type of Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red, Blacks) but an entirely different species. Many shrimp owners like to keep Bumblebees with Red Cherry Shrimp, as the two require similar water parameters and will not interbreed.


If you have any questions about the shrimp species on this list or want to share your own experiences with keeping and breeding aquarium shrimp, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

Cover photo: _DSF8871qxq by Peder Lundgren

Join the mailing list!​

Email Address First Name

I have read and agree to the privacy policy.​

Subscribe

The post 10 Freshwater shrimp species | Aquarium shrimp types & info appeared first on Aquariadise.

Continue reading...